Selective indexing device



July 2, 1968 E. E. MAsTERsoN 3,391,273

SELECTIVE INDEXING DEVICE Filed June l 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 5A RL E. MAJrf/fJ'o/v July 2, 1968 E. E. MASTERSON SELECTIVE INDEXING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June l, 1962 Dunn nnnn

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,391,273 SELECTIVE INDEXING DEVICE Earl E. Masterson, Weston, Conn., assignor to Sperry Rand Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 1, 1962, Ser. No. 199,440 19 Claims. (Cl. 235-61.11)

This invention relates generally to indexing devices and has more particular relation to devices of this class designed for effecting the physical registration between members of which one is movable throughout a succession of operative settings with respect to the other.

The invention is disclosed herein as adapted for use in a punched card controlled machine such as, for example, the machine shown and described in the U.S. Patent No. 3,003,633, entitled, Record Card Sorting Machine, issued Oct. l0, 1961. The machine of the said patent is adapted for sorting a stack of records by distributing individual records to an appropriate receiving pocket as determined by information sensed from a selected column of each record, the machine being designed for handling the wellknown Remington Rand 9 0-column punched card which carries 45 columns of information within each upper and lower half of the card. ln said machine card sensing is accomplished by photoelectric means comprising a light source and photocells disposed, respectively, on opposite sides of the card in such a manner as to render the photocells responsive to light from said source when and if permitted by perforations existing in the card as it advances through the sensing station. In order to select a column to be sensed, an indexing mechanism is provided for moving the photocells, of which there is one for upper zone card columns and one for lower zone card columns, into the desired columnar registration with the sensing station.

It will, of course, be readily apparent that in indexing mechanisms of the character herein disclosed the accuracy of the registration achieved thereby must be very high in order to prevent machine misoperation; in addition, it should be understood that the degree of accuracy required increases inversely with the width of the card perforations to be sensed and also with the spacing between adjacent columns of card perforations.

The device according to the present invention is adapted for selectively sensing one column of a punched card comprised of 80 columns arranged along its length in which the width of the coded perforations with a column and the lateral spacing between the adjacent columns is considerably less than in the case of above mentioned Remington Rand 90-colurnn card. The invention is further adapted for use with cards of standard size and employing 80 columns along its length, but wherein the card is divided along its length in a manner similar to aforesaid Remington Rand 90-column card, so as to provide 80 columns of six index positions each in each upper and lower half of the card, thereby providing the card with a total capacity of 160 card columns. In utilizing cards of this latter type it has been proposed to record successive items of data within a card field which embraces aligned columns in both of the upper and lower halves of the card, whereby for systems purposes the columns will be numbered in sequence from one end of the card to another and alternating between upper half and lower half columns thereby rendering all columns in one half of the card odd numbered columns and all columns in the other half of the card even numbered columns. In adapting the invention for use with cards in this latter type the respective photocell means associated with each half of the card are offset relative to each other to an extent equal t one half the spacing between adjacent columns, and the drive mechanism for effecting adjust- 3,391,273 Patented July 2, 1968 lCC ment thereof is adapted for successive step movement a distance equal to one half of the columnar spacing so that in one setting of the mechanism when one of the photocells is in register with a selected column in one half of the card the other photocell will be registered halfway between columns in the other half of the card. In this manner the two photocell means are alternately made effective as the mechanism is indexed through a succession of columnar settings.

One feature of the disclosed invention is the provision of detent means which employs the principles of magnetic attraction and repulsion for facilitating and retaining the setting of the mechanism at a selected columnar registration.

Another feature Of the present invention rresides in the provision of improved means for electrically interlocking the mechanism with machine motor control so as to prevent machine operation at any time when the photoelectric sensing devices are not in correct columnar registration.

lt is, therefore, an object of this invention to facilitate and improve the indexing of a member movable into a selected one of a plurality of registration settings relative to another.

It is a further object of the invention to increase the accuracy of indexing mechanisms of the character described lt is a further object of the invention to improve upon detent means for use with an indexing mechanism of the character described.

It is a still further object of the invention to improve upon electrical interlock means between an indexing mechanism and control over the machine for which it is associated.

Further objects of the invention, together with the features contributing into and the advantages accruing therefrom, will become apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the device in assocation with the sensing station of a record card sorting machine.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a card at the sensing station and illustrating its columnar registration with the card sensing means of the machine.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the sensing mechanism in another columnar registration.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line of 4-4 of FIG. 1 and illustrating the arrangement of permanent magnets which cooperate to achieve the detent function of the device.

FIG. 5 is a View similar to FIG. 4 showing another position of the mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a schematic wiring diagram indicating the functions controlled by the switch members of the device.

With reference now to FIG. 1, the record card sorting machine with which the device is associated operates to feed records seriatim from a magazine 10 through operation of a picker blade 11 reciprocated by a helical cam 12. For a fuller understanding of the card feeding mechanism reference may be had to the aforesaid P-atent Number 3,003,633.

The cards are advanced by the picker blade to feed rollers 13 which convey each card into a sensing chamber comprised of spaced-apart plates 14 -and 15 which are suitably secured to the frame of the machine and are formed with perforated areas disposed to register with index positions of the cards. Sensing of the record is accomplished by a light source directed through the perforations in the plates 14, 15, to ya light-responsive means on the opposite side of the sensing chamber, whereby electrical signals are generated to correspond with the pattern of perforations in the record column as it is passing through the sensing chamber.

In the present instance, as distinguished from the machine of the aforesaid patent, the light source is adjustably mounted and is contained in a housing 20 secured below the sensing station and having its upper face lying in close proximity to the lower sensing chamber plate 15. The housing 20 contains two lamps, 21, 22, preferably of the infrared type and disposed for sensing columns in the upper half and the lower half of the record, respectively. The upper face of the housing 20 is formed with apertures 23, 24, of substantially the same size and configuration as the card perforations for directing the light from the respective lamp on to a selected column of the card passing through the sensing station. Said lamps correspond in function to the fixed light source (lamps 188) of the aforementioned patent.

Disposed above the sensing chamber is a housing or block 25 containing photocells 26, 27, the lower face of said housing lying close to the sensing chamber plate 14 and being provided with suitable apertures for exposing the photocells 26, 27 to the light from the lamps 21, 22, respectively. Housing 25 and photocells 26 and 27 correspond in function to the photocell means (block 176 and photocells 588, 596) of the aforementioned patent.

The housings 20, 25 are adjustably set in registration with a selected card column by means of lead screws 30, 31 which are suitably thread fitted with the housings so as to advance the housings across the sensing station in unison as the screws are rotated by means hereafter to be described. The lead screw 30 is suitably journaled in the frame of the machine and the lamp housing 20 is suitably guided in a channel shaped rail member 32, it being understood that suitable electrically conductive elements, not shown, are provided on the rail member 32 and the housing 20 for completing an electrical circuit to the lamps 21, 22. The lead screw 31 is suitably journaled in a support member 33 pivotedly mounted at one end, so as to enable it to be swung upward and away from the sensing chamber, said member 32 defining a channel-shape guide for the photocell housing 25, it being understood that means, including contact shoes 34 are also provided in member 33 and housing 25 for completing electrical circuits to the photocells 26, 27.

For rotating the lead screws 30, 31, to effect the columnar registration of the photoelectric members, each lead screw is provided at one end with a ybeveled gear 35, 36, respectively. Gear 35 engages a beveled gear 37, on a shaft 38, while gear 36 engages a gear 41 on a shaft 42.

The shafts 38, 42, are suitably journaled in the frame of the machine and each carries at its forward end a spur gear 43, 44, respectively, meshing with a drive gear 45 fast on a shaft 46 also suitably journaled in the frame of the machine. The forward end of shaft 46 carries a knurled wheel 47 by which the shaft 46 and drive gear 45 may be manually rotated, whereby, through the train of gearing just described, the lamp housing 20 and photocell housing 25 may be adjustably positioned in registration with a selected column of a card at the sensing station. As an alternative means for rotating the drive gear 45 and associated gear train, particularly in instances where it might be desired to register the photocell sensing means in single column increments, a ratchet wheel 48 is also fastened on shaft 46, and a manually operated spring biased plunger 49, suitably secured to the frame of the machine, is disposed to engage the ratchet wheel so that when operated the drive gear 46 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction a suitable increment to step the photocell sensing means from one column to the next column registration.

In order to provide a visual indication of the columnar registration of the sensing mechanism, a counter 51 is preferably provided, said counter being driven through a chain 52 coupling a sprocket wheel 53 on shaft 46 with a sprocket wheel 54 on the input shaft to the counter.

In order to insure that the movable sensing members 20, 25 are in the precise registration alignment with a column of the record and to facilitate the setting of the sensing members in the precise columnar registration, a detent mechanism is provided in accordance with the invention for urging the sensing mechanism into correct columnar alignment and for resisting movement of said mechanism out of precise columnar alignment. The detent mechanism includes a plurality of permanent magnets 61, see also FIGS. 4, 5, of which there are four in the disclosed embodiment arcuately disposed equidistantly around the face of a detent disc 62 secured to the rear end of shaft 38. Cooperating with magnets 61 are a pair of permanent magnets 63 secured to a machine frame bracket 64 in diametrically opposed relation to the axis of disc 62, each being arranged so that its poles face those Vof the magnets 61 and periodically align therewith as the disc 62 is rotated.

As can best be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the magnets 61 are alternately reversely polarized, whereas the two magnets 63 are polarized in the same direction in relation to the axis of disc 62. Accordingly, when the disc is rotated to bring the two diametrically opposed magnets 61 of reverse polarity into alignment with the two magnets 63, as shown in FIG. 4, the magnetic attraction between the magnets 61, 63, will tend to retain the disc and all parts geared thereto in the same position. FIG. 5 illustrates the position of the disc as it is rotated manually in a clockwise direction away from the detent position and towards the next columnar registration. It will be understood that in moving the discs from the FIG. 4 position to that of FIG. 5, the movement thereof will be resisted by magnetic attraction, and as the disc continues to be rotated a distance approaching one-quarter revolution the other two magnets 61, having the same polarization as magnet 63, will be brought into proximity with the magnets 63 thereby also resisting the rotation of the disc due now to the magnetic repulsion between magnets 61 and 63. The magnetic repulsion is at its maximum when the disc is rotated a full one-quarter turn from the FIG. 4 position, whereat if the turning force were removed the magnetic force would tend to drive the disc in one direction or another a quarter turn to a position of stability and which would bring the sensing means into precise columnar registration with a record column. Accordingly, in rotating the disc manually to the next columar registration, manual force is required to rotate the disc only past a quarter turn, whereupon the magnetic forces are suicient to bring the disc into its next stable position at one half revolution, as shown in FIG. 4, and which will align the sensing devices 20, 25, in accurate registration for sensing the next column. It will be of course understood that in the disclosed embodiment the gearing of the various shafts, including the thread pitch of the lead screws 30, 31, is such that one half revolution of the shaft 38 will cause the sensing devices 20, 25, to be advanced the distance required to bring them into registration with the next column to be sensed.

The disclosed embodiment is adapted for sensing records of a type such as the punched card 70, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, containing 80 record columns in the upper half of the card and 8O columns in the lower half of the card, the columns in the respective halves being alternately numbered from left to right across the card so that all upper half columns will be odd numbered columns and all lower half columns will be even numbered columns. In cards of this type a sequence of characters would be recorded in consecutively numbered columns with one character of the sequence being recorded in column 1, the next character in column 2, etc. In order to adapt the indexing mechanism for use with cards of this type, the lamp 21 and photocell 26 associated with the odd numbered columns is columnarly offset, with respect to the lamp 22 and photocell 27 associated with the even numbered columns, to an extent equal to one half the space between the record columns. The offset relation between the respecitve sensing devices can best be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 3 shows the mechanism indexed for sensing column 20 in the lower half of the card with the aperture 24 of the lamp housing 20 in registration with column 20 and with the aperture 23 halfway between registration with columns 19 and 21. FIG. 2 shows the position of the same parts when indexed Ifor sensing the next higher numbered column as the result of one half revolution of the detent disc 62, so as to bring lamp aperture 23 into registration with column 21 while at the same time bringing the lamp aperture 24 halfway between registration with columns 20 and 22. It will, of course, be understood that the indexing may proceed in either direction at the will of the operator to select adjacent columns in ascending order or descending order depending upon direction of the rotation of the handwheel 47, the detent performing in the same manner regardless of the direction in which the Wheel is turned.

Associated with the detent mechanism is an electrical interlock 'for interrupting power to the motor of the machine when the mechanism is out of columnar registration in which condition any appropriate means may be energized to indicate to the operator that the sensing devices are not in proper colu-mnar registration. The interlockvmeans comprises a magnetically operated reed switch 65 mounted by means of suitable clips 66 adjacent to one of the fixed permanent magnets 63 in such a manner as to lie within the normal magnet field of the permanent magnet. Accordingly, the magnet 63 serves as a normal bias on the switch whereby its transfer contact normally completes a circuit for indicating that the sensing mechanism is out of columnar registration. As the detent disc is rotated to bring the sensing devices into columnar registration a reversely polarized magnet 61 will di-vert the magnetic ield of the biasing magnet 63 thereby causing the switch 65 to transfer and complete a circuit to the motor of the machine. Accordingly, it will be apparent that when the indexing mechanism is in a position other than correct columnar registration, the interlock will prevent operation of the machine by interrupting a circuit to the machine motor.

A further electrical device is provided to assure proper operation of the sensing device by interrupting power to the photocell which is not required in a particular columnar setting of the mechanism. Referring now to FIG. l, the forward end of shaft 38 carries a clamp 67 supporting a permanent magnet 68. Cooperating with the magnet 68 are a pair of single contact reed switches 71, 72, disposed in diametrically opposed relation to the shaft 38 and adjacent the orbit of the magnet 68, each of the switches being suitably supported by mounting clips 73 to a portion 74 of the machine frame, as can be seen by reference FIG. 6. The switch 71 completes a circuit to the odd column photocell 26 and the switch 72 completes a circuit to the even column photocell 27. In the position shown in FIG. I the mechanism is shown indexed in registration with an odd numbered column with the magnet 68 disposed adjacent switch 71, so as to complete a circuit to the photocell 26. As the shaft is rotated one half revolution from the position shown for indexing the mechanism into registration with the next column, the magnet 68 would be brought into proximity with the switch 72, normally opened, so as to operate the switch and compelte a circuit to the photocell 26. In this manner assurance is provided that the photocell associated with columns in one half of the card cannot generate a signal when the mechanism is indexed for sensing a column in the other half of the card.

It should of course be realized that the mechanism may be adapted with equally beneficial results for use out the advantages of the novel mechanism. For example,

if the mechanism were to be employed in conjunction with the standard column card, not divided into upperhalf and lower-half columns, dual sensing devices would not be required, and the gear ratio would be appropriately determined to cause travel of the sensing devices the distance of one card column for each half revolution of the detent disc 62.

It will of course also be apparent that although the disclosed embodiment is adapted for indexing through successive steps of equal length, it may readily be modified to index through steps of varying length merely by arranging the permanent magnets at corresponding varying increments about the detent disc.

While there has been shown and described what is regarded as a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should of course be understood that changes in form could be made without departing from the spirit of invention, and it is therefore intended that the invention be not limited to the exact form herein shown and described, nor to anything less than the whole of the invention as hereinabove set forth and as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An indexing device for registering a movable member into a selected one of a series of aligned positions relative to another member comprising,

(a) means for guiding the travel of said movable member through said series of aligned positions,

(b) a manually rotatable member,

(c) means responsive to the rotation of said rotatable member for conveying said movable member through said series of positions,

(d) first magnetized means disposed in fixed relation to said rotatable member,

(e) and further magnetized means mounted to rotate with said rotatable member through a path intersecting the magnetic field of said first magnetized means, said further magnetized means including a magnetized member polarized reversely to the polarization of said first magnetized means, whereby said rotatable member is urged into and detained at a rotated position wherein the fields of said magnetized member and said fixedly mounted magnetized means are coupled with maximum density.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said responsive means operates to convey said movable member into successive aligned positions as said manually rotatable member successively advances said magnetized member into the magnetic field of said first magnetized means.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said further magnetized means includes an additional magnetized member polarized in the same direction as the polarization of said first magnetized means, said additional magnetized member being disposed to interact with said first magnetized means in rotated positions of said rotatable member intermediate the positions wherein said reversely polarized magnetized member interacts with said first magnetized means, whereby said rotatable member is repelled away from said intermediate rotated positions.

4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said further magnetized means includes a plurality of said reversely polarized magnetized members arranged equidistant about their orbit to define a corresponding plurality of registration settings for said movable member within each revolution of said manually rotatable member.

5. The invention according to claim 4 wherein said further magnetized means includes a plurality of additional magnetizing members polarized in the same direction as said first magnetized means and arranged to intersect the magnetic field of said first magnetized means alternately with said pluraliy of reversely polrized magnetized members, whereby said manually rotatable member is repelled away from rotated positions thereof intermediate the positions representing a registration setting for said movable member.

6. The invention according to claim wherein said first magnetized means includes a plurality of magnetized members spaced apart about an arc concentric to the axis of said manually rotatable member.

7. The invention according to claim 1 including a fixedly mounted magnetically operable switch member disposed for actuation by said magnetized member to condition a control circuit in accordance with the rotated position of said manually rotatable member.

8. The invention according to claim 7 wherein said switch member is disposed in the magnetic field of said first magnetized means to provide a bias for the switch member, said magnetized member when rotated into the field of said first magnetized means removing said bias to cause actuation of said switch member.

9. The invention according to claim 8 wherein said switch member includes a transfer contact for completing one control circuit when biased by said first magnetized means and another control circuit when said bias is removed under the influence of said magnetized member.

10. The invention according to claim 9 including a further magnetized member rotatable with said manually rotatable member, and a plurality of further magnetically operable switching members fixedly mounted in relation to said further magnetized member and spaced about the orbit of said further magnetized member for .actuation thereby to condition corresponding circuits in accordance with rotated positions of said rotatable member.

11. The invention according to claim 1 including coun ter means driven by said rotatable member for indicating the aligned position of the series thereof at which said movable member is registered by said device.

12. The invention according to claim 1 including plunger means manually operable for imparting a predetermined extent of rotation to said rotatable member.

13. In a machine for sensing records, having data designations arranged columnarly across the face of the record, and including a record sensing station through which records are fed and whereat records are sensed by sensing means registerable in columnar alignment with a selected column of said record, indexing means for effecting the columnar registration of said sensing means comprising,

(a) a manually rotatable member,

(b) means responsive to the rotation of said member for conveying said sensing means successively into registration with successive columns of said record,

(c) magnetically operated detent means for urging said sensing means into registration with a selected record column, said detent means including first permanently magnetized means disposed in fixed relation to said manually rotatable member, and

(d) further permanently magnetized means mounted to rotate with said rotatable member through an orbit intersecting the magnetic field of said first magnetized means, said further magnetized means including a member polarized reversely to the polarization of said first magnetized means, said member being disposed to intersect said field when said sensing means aligns with a record column, whereby said sensing means is urged into and detained in registration with a selected record column by the magnetic attraction between said first magnetized means and said further magnetized means.

14. The invention according to claim 13 wherein said further magnetized means includes an additional magnetized member polarized reversely to the polarization of said first magnetized means, said additional magnetized member being disposed to interact with said first magnetized means at rotated positions of said rotatable mem ber wherein said sensing means is disposed intermediate registration with successive record columns, whereby said sensing means is urged out of a position intermedate registration with successive columns by the repellng interaction of said additional magnetized member and said first magnetized means.

15. The invention according to claim 13 wherein each of said records includes individual columns in each half of the record, the columns in one half aligning with those in the other half, and wherein said sensing means includes separate sensing devices associated respectively with each half of the record, said devices being relatively offset to the extent of one half the distance between adjacent record columns, said further magnetized means being arranged to intersect the magnetic field of said first magnetized means when said sensing devices are moved the extent of one half the distance between record columns, whereby successive registration settings of said sensing means are effected with the columns in each half of the record alternately.

16. The invention according to claim 15 including separate magnetically operable switching devices for conditioning a circuit to a respective one of said sensing devices and including a further permanently magnetized member mounted for rotation with said manually rotatable means for operating said switching devices alternately during successive registrations of said sen-sing means with said record columns.

17. The invention according to claim 13 including a fixedly mounted magnetically operable switch member disposed for actuation by said further magnetized means to condition a control circuit in accordance with the rotated position of said manually rotatable member.

18. The invention according to claim 17 wherein said switch member is disposed in the magnetic field of said first magnetized means which provides a bias for said switch member, said further magnetized means when rotated into the field of said magnetized means removing the said bias to cause actuation of said switch member.

19. The invention according to claim 18 wherein said switch member includes a transfer contact for completing one control circuit when biased by said first magnetized means and another control circuit when said bias is removed under influence of said further magnetized means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,003,633 10/1961 Perez et al 209-1115 3,133,785 5/1964 Ahlberg et al 23S-61.11

OTHER REFERENCES IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 1, No. 1, I une 1958, 23S-61.115, p. 4 relied on.

IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. l, No. 2, August 1958, 23S-61.115, pp. 1-2 relied on.

MAYNARD R. WILBUR, Primary Examiner. MALCOLM A. MORRISON, Examiner. K. R. STEVENS, I. SHERIDAN, Assistant Examiners. 

1. AN INDEXING DEVICE FOR REGISTERING A MOVABLE MEMBER INTO A SELECTED ONE OF A SERIES OF ALIGNED POSITIONS RELATIVE TO ANOTHER MEMBER COMPRISING, (A) MEANS FOR GUIDING THE TRAVEL OF SAID MOVABLE MEMBER THROUGH SAID SERIES OF ALIGNED POSITIONS, (B) A MANUALLY ROTATABLE MEMBER, (C) MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE ROTATION OF SAID ROTATABLE MEMBER FOR CONVEYING SAID MOVABLE MEMBER THROUGH SAID SERIES OF POSITIONS, (D) FIRST MAGNETIZED MEANS DISPOSED IN FIXED RELATION TO SAID ROTATABLE MEMBER, (E) AND FURTHER MAGNETIZED MEANS MOUNTED TO ROTATE WITH SAID ROTATABLE MEMBER THROUGH A PATH INTERSECTING THE MAGNETIC FIELD OF SAID FIRST MAGNETIZED MEANS, SAID FURTHER MAGNETIZED MEANS INCLUDING A MAGNETIZED MEMBER POLARIZED REVERSELY TO THE POLARIZATION OF SAID FIRST MAGNETIZED MEANS, WHEREBY SAID ROTATABLE MEMBER IS URGED INTO AND DETAINED AT A ROTATED POSITION WHEREIN THE FIELDS OF SAID MAGNETIZED MEMBER AND SAID FIXEDLY MOUNTED MAGNETIZED MEANS ARE COUPLED WITH MAXIMUM DENSITY. 